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FIRE DYNAMICS TOOLS

An Educational Program to
Improve the Level of Teaching
Risk-Informed, Performancebased Fire Protection Engineering
Assessment Methods
1

RESOURCES PROVIDED
All Participants will be given at the end of the
course, a CD-ROM containing:
Handouts and visuals used in presentations
Reference materials, real-world example FHAs,
and the latest version of FDTs
Fire Dynamics Tools (FDT s) Quantitative Fire
Hazard Analysis Methods for the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission Fire Protection Inspection
Program, (NUREG-1805.1, June 2005).
Verification and Validation of Selected Fire Models
for Nuclear Power Plant Applications, (NUREG1824/EPRI 1011999, May 2007)
2

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) has developed quantitative methods,
known as the Fire Dynamics Tools (FDTs) to
assist in performing Fire Hazard Analyses
(FHAs) known as NUREG 1805.
This methodology has been implemented in
Exceltm spreadsheets
The goal of this effort is to provide first-order
calculations of potential postulated scenarios at
nuclear power plants.
4

OBJECTIVES
Provide basic calculation methodology for use in
assessing potential fire hazards in NRC-licensed
nuclear power plants (NPPs).
The methodology uses simplified fire hazard
analysis (FHA) techniques for credible fire
scenarios.
The FDTs spreadsheets are designed to
incorporated empirical correlations and
mathematical calculations based upon fire
dynamics principles.
5

REGULATORY BACKGROUND

General Requirements in
Appendix R (10 CFR 50) states
a fire protection program shall:
Prevent fires from starting
Rapidly detect, control, and extinguish
fires that do occur
Protect structures, systems, and
components
6

REGULATORY OBJECTIVES
FHAs for Nuclear Power Plants should:
Consider the potential for transient fire
hazards
Determine the consequences of fire in any
location in the plant
Pay attention to safe reactor shutdown while
minimizing the chances for radioactive
material releases
Specify measures for fire detection,
suppression, containment, and prevention.
7

COMMON NPP FIRE HAZARDS


Combustible Solid Fuels

Cable insulation and pipe insulation


Building materials, combustible roof deck
Filtering, packing, and sealing materials
Low level radioactive wastes

Combustible and Flammable Liquid Fuels


Lubricants, hydraulic oil, and control fuels

Explosive and Flammable Gaseous Fuels


Hydrogen
Propane
8

TYPICAL FIRE HAZARDS


Electrical cable insulation
Ordinary combustibles
Oil fire hazards in reactor
coolant pump motors,
emergency turbine-driven
feedwater pumps
Diesel fuel fire hazards at
diesel-driven generators
Charcoal in filter units
Flammable off gases
Protective coatings

Turbine lube oil and


hydrogen seal oil
Hydrogen cooling gas fire
hazard in turbine
generator buildings
Fire hazards associated
with electrical switchgear,
motor control centers
(MCCs), electrical
cabinets, load centers,
inverter, circuit boards,
and transformers
9

NPP FIRE
SCENARIOS
(NUREG 1824)
10

NPP SCENARIOS (NUREG 1824)


Switchgear Room
Cable Spreading
Room
Main Control
Room
Pump Room
Turbine Building
MultiCompartment
Corridor

Multi-Level
Building
Containment
Building
Battery Room
Computer or Relay
Room
Outdoors

11

SWITCHGEAR ROOM FIRE

12

CABLE SPREADING ROOM FIRE

13

MAIN CONTROL ROOM FIRE

14

PUMP ROOM FIRE

15

TURBINE BUILDING ROOM FIRE

16

MULTI-COMP. CORRIDOR FIRE

17

MULTI-LEVEL BUILDING FIRE

18

CONTAINMENT BUILDING FIRE

19

FHAS USING
FIRE MODELS
20

FHAs USING FIRE MODELS


FHAs of NPPs are typically assisted using
fire models.
Three useful classes of fire models exist
(Ref: NIST, RIC 2007):

21

FIRE MODELING OUTPUTS

22

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(1) Hot gas layer temperature: This
temperature is particularly important in
NPP fire scenarios because it can
provide an indication of target damage
away from the ignition source. Models
predict the increase in environmental
temperature attributable to the energy
released by a fire in a volume.
23

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(2) Hot gas layer height: The height of
the hot gas layer is also important in NPP
fire scenarios because it indicates
whether a given target is immersed in
and affected by hot gas layer
temperatures.

24

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(3) Ceiling jet temperature: The ceiling jet is the
shallow layer of hot gases that spreads radially
below the ceiling as the fire plume flow
impinges on it. This layer of hot gases has a
distinct temperature that is higher than the
temperature associated with the hot gas layer.
This attribute is important in NPP fire scenarios
that subject targets to unobstructed ceiling jet
gases.

25

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(4) Plume temperature: The fire plume is the
buoyant flow rising above the ignition source,
which carries the hot gases that ultimately
accumulate in the upper part of a room to form
the hot gas layer. The plume is characterized
by a distinct temperature profile, which is
expected to be higher than the ceiling jet and
hot gas layer. This attribute is particularly
important in NPP fires because of the
numerous postulated scenarios that involve
targets directly above a potential fire source.
26

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(5) Flame height: The height of the flame is
important in those NPP fire scenarios
where targets are located close to the
ignition source. Some of these scenarios
subject the target to flame temperatures
because the distance between the target
and the ignition source is less than the
predicted flame height. A typical example
would be cable trays above an electrical
cabinet.
27

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(6) Radiated heat flux to targets: Radiation is
an important mode of heat transfer in fire
events. The modeling tools within the scope of
this study address fire-induced thermal
radiation (or radiated heat flux) with various
levels of sophistication, from simply estimating
flame radiation, to calculating radiation from
different surfaces and gas layers in the
computational domain.

28

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(7) Total heat flux to targets: In contrast to
thermal radiation (or radiated heat flux), the
total heat flux a target is subjected includes
convective heat transfer. Convective heat
transfer is a significant contributor to target
heat-up in scenarios that involve targets in the
hot gas layer, ceiling jet, or fire plume.

29

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(8) Total heat flux to walls: This attribute
evaluates the incident heat flux to walls, floors,
and ceilings, which includes the contributions
of radiation and convection. Because the heat
conducted through the walls, floors, and
ceilings does not contribute to room heat up, it
can be an important factor in the heat balance
in control volume(s) in contact with the
surfaces.

30

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(9) Wall temperature: This attribute was
included as a separate attribute in this
study to evaluate model capabilities to
determine the temperature of walls,
floors, and ceilings.

31

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(10) Target temperature: The calculation of
target temperature is perhaps the most
common objective of fire modeling analyses.
The calculation of target temperature involves
an analysis of localized heat transfer at the
surface of the target after determining the fire
induced conditions in the room.

32

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(11) Smoke concentration: The smoke
concentration can be an important attribute in
NPP fire scenarios that involve rooms where
operators may need to perform actions during
a fire. This attribute specifically refers to soot
concentration, which affects how far a person
can see through the smoke (visibility).

33

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(12) Oxygen concentration: This is an
important attribute potentially influencing
the outcome of fires in NPPs because of
the compartmentalized nature of NPPs.
Oxygen concentration has a direct
influence on the burning behavior of a
fire, especially if the concentration is
relatively low.
34

FIRE MODELING PARAMETERS


(13) Room pressure: Room pressure is a
rarely used attribute in NPP fire
modeling. It may be important when it
contributes to smoke migration to
adjacent compartments.

35

HAZARD METHODOLOGY

Tier A Material Properties


A1 (08) Burning duration of
solids
A2 (07) Heat Release Rate of
cable tray fires
A3 (03) Burning characteristics
of liquid pool fires (HRR, burning
duration, flame height)
36

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier B Plume Development
B1 (09) Center line temperature of
a fire plume
B2 (04) Flame height calculations
(wall, line, corner)
B3 (05) Estimate radiant heat flux to
target fuel
B4 (06) Ignition temperature of a
target fuel
37

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier C Compartment Factors
C1 (02) Prediction of hot gas layer temperature
C2 (10, 11, 12) Estimating detector/sprinkler
response times
C3 (13) Predicting compartment flashover
C4 (14, 15) Predicting pressure rise in closed
compartment, explosion pressure
C5 (16) Predicting rate of hydrogen gas generation
C 6 (17) Calculating fire resistance of structural
members
38

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier D Tenability (Hazard Criteria)
D1 (18) Estimating visibility through smoke
D2 Heat release rate
D3 Radiant heat exposure (2.5 kW/m2)
D4 Layer temperature (100oC)
D5 Layer smoke density (0.2/m)
D6 Layer Carbon Monoxide (3,000 ppm)
D7 Layer Oxygen (10 percent or less)
39

RECENT STUDIES
Comparison of Three
Fire Models in the
Simulation of
Accidental Fires,G.
Rein, A. Bar-Ilan, and
A.C. Fernandez-Pello,
University of California
at Berkeley; and N.
Alvares, Fire Sciences
Applications, San
Carlos, California, 2004.

Study applied and


compared the predictive
capabilities of Analytical,
CFAST Zone, and FDS
Field Models to three
accidental fires
Findings were these three
models produced results
in relatively good
agreement, particularly in
early stages of fire
development
40

ACCURACY OF FIRE MODELS

NUREG
1824
Analysis
41

ACCURACY OF FIRE MODELS

NUREG 1824 Analysis

42

FIRE DYNAMICS
TOOLS
(TIER A)
43

HAZARD METHODOLOGY

Tier A Material Properties


A1 (08) Burning duration of
solids
A2 (07) Heat Release Rate of
cable tray fires
A3 (03) Burning characteristics
of liquid pool fires (HRR, burning
duration, flame height)
44

ESTIMATING BURNING DURATION


OF SOLID COMBUSTIBLES
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 8)
08_Burning_Duration_Solid.xls
45

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING BURNING DURATION OF
SOLID COMBUSTIBLES
Introduce factors that influence the fire
duration of solid combustibles.
Explain how to estimate fire durations for
various solid combustibles.
Approximate first order estimates of
burning durations.
46

BURNING DURATION
The burning duration is the time between
ignition and the decay phase of a fire.
The burning duration (fire) for a given
compartment size and ventilation condition is
driven by the fuel load.
Given the mass of material being burned per
second and the amount of material available to
be consumed, it is possible to calculate a first
order estimate for the total burning duration of
a fuel.
47

BURNING DURATION
The burning duration of solid combustibles can
be estimated if the HRR and total energy
contained in the fuel are known.
tsolid

E m fuel H c

Q& Q&Afuel

Afuel LW

48

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) Combustion is incomplete (leaving
some residual fuel) and takes place
entirely within the confines of the
compartment.
(2) Virtually all of the potential energy in
the fuel is released in the involved
compartment.

49

INPUT NEEDED

(1) fuel type (material)


(2) mass of solid fuel
(3) exposed fuel surface area

50

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (8.9-1)
A horizontal power cable fails as a result of
self-initiated fire and burn in a compartment.
Compute the burning duration of a cable tray
with an exposed surface area of 1 ft filled with
10 lb of non-IEEE-383-qualified PE/PVC
cables. The heat release per unit floor area of
PE/PVC is 589 kW/m , and the heat of
combustion is 24,000 kJ/kg.
2

51

ESTIMATING THE FULL-SCALE


HEAT RELEASE RATE OF A CABLE
TRAY FIRE
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 7)
07_Cable_HRR_Calculations.xls
52

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING THE FULL-SCALE HEAT
RELEASE RATE OF A CABLE TRAY FIRE

Describe the numerous functions that electrical cables


perform in a nuclear power plant (NPP).
Explain the factors that determine how a cable will
behave in a fire.
Describe the ways that fires can occur in cable tray
installations and combustion reactions.
Explain the processes that electrical failures can initiate
in a cable tray.
53

CABLE TRAY FIRE HISTORY


Fires in grouped electrical cable trays pose distinct fire
hazards in power generating facilities.
In the past, cable tray installations have caused fires
that resulted in serious damage to NPPs.
The 1975 fire at TVAs Browns Ferry Nuclear Power
Plant demonstrated the vulnerability of electric cables
installed in an NPP when exposed to elevated
temperatures as a result of a fire.
In response, the NRC issued fire protection
requirements in 10 CFR 50.48 and Appendix R to 10
CFR Part 50.
54

USE OF ELECTRICAL CABLES


Power cables that supply electricity to motors,
transformers, and heaters
Lighting cables that supply electricity to normal lighting
fixtures and fluorescent lighting ballasts
Control cables that interconnect plant equipment to
remote initiating devices (e.g., switches, relays, and
contacts)
Instrumentation cables that transmit low-voltage
signals between devices (e.g., readout panels)
Communication cables (telephone lines)
Heat tracing cables.
55

BEHAVIOR IN FIRES
Electrical cables constitute a serious fire hazard for
NPPs because the combustible polymeric insulation
and jacket material are present in large quantities. This
large fuel load can cause NPP fires to burn for
extended periods
The behavior of cables in a fire depends on:
(1)
their constituent materials and construction, (2) their
location, and (3) installation geometry.
Cable tray fires scenarios include (1) fire within a cable
tray and (2) as exposure fire the subsequently ignites
the cable tray.
56

CABLE TRAY HRR


The peak full-scale HRR from a cable
tray fire can be predicted according to
the bench-scale HRR measurements.

Q&fs 0.45 Q&bs Af

57

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) This correlation is based on the data
obtained from flaming fire of cable samples.
(2) A complex cable tray configuration may be
present in many NPPs. For very complex cable
tray arrays, the above correlation would give a
less accurate approximation for the HRR.
(3) The equation should be used to calculate the
HRR for any type of cable.

58

INPUT NEEDED

(1) cable type (material)


(2) exposed cable tray burning area

59

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (7.12-1)
A 32-gallon trash can exposure fire source is
located 2 m (6.5 ft) beneath a horizontal cable tray.
It is assumed that the trash fire ignites an area of
approximately 2 m (21 ft ) of the cable tray.
The cables in the tray are IEEE-383 unqualified and
made of PE/PVC insulation material.
Compute the full-scale HRR of the PE/PVC cable
insulation. The bench-scale HRR of PE/PVC is 589
kW/m
2

60

BURNING CHARACTERISTICS OF
LIQUID POOL FIRE, HEAT
RELEASE RATE, BURNING
DURATION, AND FLAME HEIGHT
(NUREG 1805 Chap 3)
03_HRR_Flame_Height_Burning_Duratio
n_Calculations.xls
61

OBJECTIVES
PREDICTING BURNING CHARACTERISTICS
OF LIQUID POOL FIRE, HEAT RELEASE RATE,
BURNING DURATION, AND FLAME HEIGHT
Identify the predominant flammable material in a nuclear
power plant (NPP).
Introduce the methods and factors that influence
estimates of the heat release and burning rate of pool
fires.
Explain how to analyze the burning duration of object and
pool fires.

62

POOL FIRE DYNAMICS FEATURES

Q& m&H c ,eff

k D
&

&
Q m H c ,eff A f 1 e

63

POOL FIRE BURNING DURATION


4V
tb
2
D v

m&
v

64

FLAME HEIGHT CALCULATIONS


Heskestad

Thomas

65

NON-CIRCULAR POOLS
Calculating the effective diameter

4 Af

66

INPUT NEEDED
Steps to estimate the burning duration of a pool
fire:
(1) Determine the regression rate of the pool fire.
(2) Calculate the equivalent diameter of the pool fire.
(3) Calculate the burning duration of the pool fire.

Input needed:
(1) fuel spill volume
(2) fuel spill area or dike area
(3) fuel type

67

INPUT NEEDED
Steps to estimate the flame height of a
pool fire:
(1) Determine the HRR of the pool fire.
(2) Calculate the equivalent diameter of the
pool fire.
(3) Determine the height of the pool fire flame.

Input needed:
(1) fuel spill volume
(2) fuel spill area or dike area
(3) fuel type
68

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The flame height correlation described in this
chapter was developed for horizontal pool fire sources
in the center or away from the center of the
compartment.
(2) The size of the fire (flame height) depends on the
diameter of the fuel and the HRR attributable to the
combustion.
(3) This correlation method is developed for twodimensional sources (primarily pool fires) assumes
that the pool is circular or nearly circular.
(4) There is no fire growth period. (the pool fire
instantaneously reaches its maximum HRR.)
69

PROBLEM SET
Lube Oil Spill
Problem 3.10-1
(p. 3-22)

Lube Oil Spill


Problem 3.10-3
(p.3-32)

70

FIRE DYNAMICS
TOOLS
(TIER B)
71

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier B Plume Development
B1 (09) Center line temperature of a
fire plume
B2 (04) Flame height calculations
(wall, line, corner)
B3 (05) Estimate radiant heat flux to
target fuel
B4 (06) Ignition temperature of a
target fuel
72

ESTIMATING THE CENTERLINE


TEMPERATURE OF A BUOYANT
FIRE PLUME
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 9)
09_Plume_Temperature_Calculations.xls
73

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING THE CENTERLINE
TEMPERATURE OF A BUOYANT FIRE
PLUME

Discuss various types of fire plumes.


Discuss the fire plume that is most common
encountered.
Identify the temperature and flow characteristics of the
fire plume.
Define relevant terms including fire plume, air
entrainment, plume temperature, ceiling jet, and virtual
origin.
74

FIRE PLUMES
A fire plume is a buoyantly rising column of hot
combustion products, along with unburned fuel
vapor and mixed with air.
The turbulent column of hot gases rises because
of buoyancy differences. This causes rapid mixing
of the hot gases with the cooler surrounding air,
which decreases its velocity, widens the column,
and reduces its temperature.
Temperature, velocity, and mass flow rates of the
fire plume above the flame are critical to the many
technical aspects of fire growth in a compartment.
75

FIRE PLUMES VIRTUAL ORIGIN

76

CENTERLINE TEMPERATURE

77

VIRTUAL ORIGIN

78

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) All heat energy is released at a point.
(2) The correlation was developed for two-dimensional
area sources.
(3) If the surrounding air is at an elevated temperature,
the temperature difference between the plume and the
surrounding environment is small. The thermal plume
cools less effectively, which will underestimate the
temperature.
(4) The thermal plume equation is not valid when the
momentum forces in a plume are more significant than
the buoyant forces, as in a jet fire.
79

INPUT NEEDED

(1) heat release rate of the fire


(2) distance from the top of the fuel to the
ceiling
(3) surface area of the combustible fuel

80

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (9.11-1)
A steel beam is located 25 ft above the floor.
Calculate the temperature of the beam
exposed from a 34.5 ft lube oil pool fire.
Assume the HRR of the fire is 5,000 kW.
2

Solution

(1) Calculate the diameter of the fire.


(2) Calculate the virtual origin of the fire.
(3) Calculate the convective HRR.
(4) Calculate the plume centerline temperature T .
p(centerline)

81

ESTIMATING WALL FIRE FLAME


HEIGHT, LINE FIRE FLAME
HEIGHT AGAINST THE WALL, AND
CORNER FIRE FLAME HEIGHT
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 4)
04_Flame_Height_Calculations.xls
82

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING WALL FIRE FLAME
HEIGHT, LINE FIRE FLAME HEIGHT
AGAINST THE WALL, AND CORNER
FIRE FLAME HEIGHT

Identify the three regions of a diffusion flame.


Explain how corners and walls affect flames.
Define relevant terms, including persistent
flame region, intermittent flame region, flame
height, and flame extension.
83

FIRE PLUME FLAME HEIGHTS


If a fire is located close to a wall or a corner,
the resulting restriction on free air entrainment
will have a significant effect on fire growth and
spread.
The primary impact of walls and corners is to
reduce the amount of entrained air available to
the flame or plume.
This lengthens flames and causes the
temperature in a plume to be higher at a given
elevation than it would be in the open.
84

FIRE PLUME FLAME HEIGHTS


When a diffusion flame develops and is in
contact with the wall, its structure can be
subdivided into three regions: (1) persistent
flame region, (2) intermittent flame region, and
(3) buoyant plume region.
As the plume rises to the ceiling, its direction
changes from vertical (upward) to horizontal.
Until the point where the flow changes direction,
the plume is primarily driven by buoyancy.
The resulting plume is driven by its residual
momentum and becomes a jet, which is referred
to as the ceiling jet.
85

FIRE PLUME FLAME HEIGHTS

86

WALL FIRE
Wall Fire Flame
Height Calculation
2

H f ( wall ) 0.034 Q& 3

87

LINE FIRE
Line Fire Flame
Height Calculation
2

H f (Wall , Line ) 0.017 Q& 3

88

CORNER FIRE
Corner Fire Flame
Height Calculation
3

H f (Corner ) 0.075 Q& 5

89

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) This method includes correlations for flame
height for liquid fire.
(2) The size of the fire (flame height) depends
on the length of the fire.
(3) This correlation is developed for twodimensional sources. The turbulent diffusion
flames produced by fires burning at or near a
wall configuration of a compartment affect the
spread of the fire.
(4) Air is entrained only from one side during
the combustion process.
90

INPUT NEEDED

(1) fuel type


(2) fuel spill volume
(3) fuel spill area

91

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (4.9-1)
A pool fire scenario arises from a breach (leak or
rupture) in an oil-filled transformer. This event allows
the fuel contents of the transformer to spill 2 gallons
along a wall with an area of 9 ft2.
A cable tray is located 8 ft above the fire. Calculate the
wall flame height of the fire and determine whether the
flame will impinge upon the cable tray.

Solution
(1) Calculate the wall flame height.
(2) Determine whether the flame will impinge upon the
cable tray.
92

ESTIMATING RADIANT HEAT FLUX


FROM A FIRE TO A TARGET FUEL
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 5)
05.1_Heat_Flux_Calculations_Wind_Free.xls
93

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING RADIANT HEAT FLUX
FROM A FIRE TO A TARGET FUEL
Introduce the three modes of heat transfer.
Explain how to calculate the heat flux from a
flame to a target outside the flame.
Discuss point source radiation models and
solid flame radiation models.

94

CRITICAL HEAT FLUX TO TARGET


The incident heat flux (the rate of heat transfer per unit
area) that is normal to the direction of heat flow is a total
of heat transmitted by radiation, conduction, and
convection required to raise the surface of a target to a
critical temperature.
Measured critical heat flux levels for representative cable
samples typically range from 15 to 25 kW/m 2. For
screening purposes, it is appropriate to use value of 10
kW/m2 for IEEE-383 qualified cable and 5 kW/m 2 for
IEEE-383 unqualified cable.

95

CRITICAL HEAT FLUX TO TARGET


Fire involving flammable and combustible liquids
typically have higher heat release rates (for the same
area of fuel involved) than ordinary combustibles fires.
The flame from a liquid fire is typically taller, making it a
better radiator.
Hydrocarbon liquid fires are also quite luminous
because of the quantity of soot in the flames, making
them better emitters of thermal radiation. Thus, a
flammable/combustible liquid fire feels more heat than
an ordinary combustibles fire of comparable size.

96

POINT SOURCE RADIATION


A point source estimate of radiant flux is the
simplest model of a radiant source used in
calculating the heat flux from a flame to target
located outside the flame.
The model assumes radiant energy is released

at a point located at the center of the fire.


The radiative fraction (Xr) depends on the fuel,
flame size, and configuration (0.15 low soot,
0.60 high-soot fuels)
r

r Q&
q&
2
4 R

97

POINT/SOLID FLAME RADIATION

98

SOLID FLAME RADIATION


The solid flame model assumes that, (1) the fire can be
represented by a solid body of a simple geometrical
shape, (2) thermal radiation is emitted from its surface,
and, (3) non-visible gases do not emit much radiation.

q& E F1 2

E T

99

HYDROCARBON FIREBALL
Variables impacting a fireballs thermal
radiation hazard: (1) the mass of fuel involved,
(2) the fireballs diameter, (3) duration, and (4)
thermal emissive power.
Radiation received by an object relatively
distant from the fireball can be calculated by:
0.771
F

828 m
q&r
R2

100

HYDROCARBON FIREBALL
Distance from center of fireball to target
Fireball flame height
Fireball volume
mF
VF

101

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The pool fires are circular or nearly circular.
(2) Except near the base of pool fires, radiation to the
surroundings can be approximated as being isotropic
or emanating from a point source.
(3) The point source model overestimates the intensity
of thermal radiation at the observers (target) locations
close to the fire.
(4) A theoretical analysis of radiation from small pool
fire by Modak (1977) indicated that the point source
model is within 5-percent the correct incident heat flux
when L/D >2.5.
102

ESTIMATING THERMAL RADIATION


(1) Characterize the geometry of the pool fire
(2) Characterize the radiative properties of the fire
(emissive power).
(3) Calculate the radiant intensity at a given location.
(4) Determine the height of the pool fire.
(5) Calculate the view or configuration factor.
(6) Determine the effective emissive power of the
flame.
(7) Calculate the radiative heat flux to the target.

103

INPUT NEEDED

(1) fuel type


(2) fuel spill area or curbed area
(3) distance between fire and target
(4) vertical distance of target from ground
level
(5) wind speed

104

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (5.11-1)
A pool fire scenario arises from a breach (leak or
rupture) in a transformer where the fuel contents spills
and spreads over the compartment floor. The
compartment is large and has a high ceiling. A pool
fire ensues with a spill area of 9.0 ft on the concrete
floor.
Calculate the flame radiant heat flux to a target
(cabinet) at ground level with no wind using: a) point
source radiation model and b) solid flame radiation
model. The distance between the fire source and the
target edge is assumed to be 10 ft.
2

105

PROBLEM SET

106

ESTIMATING THE IGNITION TIME


OF A TARGET FUEL EXPOSED TO
A CONSTANT RADIATIVE HEAT
FLUX
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 6)
06_Ignition_Time_Calculations.xls
107

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING THE IGNITION TIME OF A
TARGET FUEL EXPOSED TO A
CONSTANT RADIATIVE HEAT FLUX
Explain the importance of the location of the
ignition source and fuels.
Discuss how to calculate ignition time.
Define relevant terms, including ignition
temperature, flash point, piloted ignition, and
non-piloted ignition.
108

IGNITION
For ignition, the solid fuel must be heated sufficiently to
vaporize and form a flammable pre-mixed system. An
ignition source (spark or small flame) must also be
present, for piloted ignition.
A gas mixture must be heated sufficiently to cause
auto-ignition.
The critical surface temperature at which these
ignitions occur is called the ignition temperature.
Piloted ignition requires a much lower temperature
than automatic (or spontaneous) ignition.

109

IGNITION TIME (THERMALLY THICK)

Method of Tewarson

Method of Mikkola and Wichman


Method of Quintiere and Harkleroad
Method of Janssens
Method of Toal, Silock, and Shields

110

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) For ignition to occur, a solid material must be
heated sufficiently to vaporize and form a flammable
mixture.
(2) Ignition occurs when the surface reaches a critical
temperature defined as the ignition temperature.
(3) A heat source must be present to ignite the solid.
(4) The solid is assumed to be infinitely thick.
(5) The methods are all derived through the solid with
radiant heating on the surface.

111

INPUT NEEDED

(1) Target fuel type (material)


(2) Exposed radiative heat flux to target
(kW/m2)

112

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (6.11-1)
Calculate the ignition time for a PVC/PE
power cable, assuming that a 6.5-ft (2-m)
diameter pool fire produces a 25-kW/m heat
flux.
2

113

FIRE DYNAMICS
TOOLS
(TIER C)
114

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier C Compartment Factors
C1 (02) Prediction of hot gas layer temperature
C2 (10, 11, 12) Estimating detector/sprinkler
response times
C3 (13) Predicting compartment flashover
C4 (14, 15) Predicting pressure rise in closed
compartment, explosion pressure
C5 (16) Predicting rate of hydrogen gas generation
C 6 (17) Calculating fire resistance of structural
members
115

PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER


TEMPERATURE AND SMOKE
LAYER HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE
WITH NATURAL AND FORCED
VENTILATION
(NUREG 1805 Chap 2)
02.1_Temperature_NV.xls
02.1_Temperature_FV.xls
116

OBJECTIVES
PREDICTING HOT GAS LAYER
TEMPERATURE AND SMOKE LAYER
HEIGHT IN A ROOM FIRE WITH NATURAL
AND FORCED VENTILATION
Explain the different stages of a compartment fire
Identify and explain the types of forced and natural
ventilation systems
Describe how to calculate the hot gas layer
temperature and smoke layer height for a fire in a
compartment with both natural and forced ventilation
systems
117

COMPARTMENT FIRE STAGES


CONDITIONS
DEPEND ON:
Combustion
Enclosure Size
Enclosure
Construction
Enclosure
Ventilation

118

COMPARTMENT FIRE STAGES

119

MECHANICAL VENTILATION

120

GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE


Natural Ventilation:
Method of
McCaffrey,
Quintiere, and
Harkleroad (MQH)

Natural Ventilation:
(Closed
Compartment)
Method of Beyler

GAS LAYER TEMPERATURE


Forced Ventilation:
Method of Foote,
Pagni and Alvares
(FPA)

Forced Ventilation:
Method of Deal
and Beyler

122

SMOKE LAYER POSITION


Natural Ventilation
(Smoke Filling):
Method of Yamana
and Tanaka

123

HRR DATA SOURCES


Data Sources for
Heat Release
Rates included on
your CD-ROM:
NUREG 1805 (p 220 to 2-22)
S. Sardqvist,
Initial Fires, Lund

Other References:
SFPE Handbook
NIST Fire on the
Web (fire.nist.gov)
124

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
The following assumptions and
limitations apply to all forced and
natural convection situations:

(1) These methods best apply to


conventional-size compartments. They
should be used with caution for large
compartments.
(2) These methods apply to both
transient and steady-state fire growth.
(3) The HRR must be known; it does
not need to be constant, and can be
allowed to change with time.
(4) Compartment geometry assumes
that a given space can be analyzed as
a rectangular space with no beam
pockets which affects the smoke filling
rate within a space if the space has
beam pockets.
(5) These methods predict average
temperatures and do not apply to
cases in which predication of local
temperature is desired

(6) Caution should be exercised when


the compartment overhead are highly
congested with obstructions such as
cable trays, conduits, ducts, etc.
(7) A single heat transfer coefficient
may be used for the entire inner
surface of the compartment.
(8) The heat flow to and through the
compartment boundaries is
unidimensional ( i.e., corners and
edges are ignored, and the boundaries
are assumed to be infinite slabs).
(9) These methods assume that heat
loss occurs as a result of mass flowing
out through openings. These methods
do not apply to situations in which
significant time passes before hot
gases begin leaving the compartment
through openings.
125

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
The following assumptions and
limitations apply only to natural
convection situations:

(10) The correlations hold for


compartment upper layer gas
temperatures up to approximately 600
C (1,112 F) only for naturally
ventilated spaces in which a quasisteady balance develops between the
rates of mass inflow and outflow from
the hot gas layer.
(11) These correlations assume that
the fire is located in the center of the
compartment or away from the walls. If
the fire is flush with a wall or in a
corner of the compartment, the MQH
correlation is not valid with coefficient
6.85.

(12) The smoke layer height


correlation assumes an average
constant value of upper layer density
throughout the smoke-filling process.
(13) The correlation does not allow the
vent to be placed in the ceiling.
(14) At the EPRI Fire Modeling
Workshop, August 26, 2002 in Seattle,
Washington, Mark Salley asked
Professor James G. Quintiere (one of
the authors of the MQH method) what
limits apply to compartment size when
using the MQH equation. Professor
Quintiere replied that the correlation
will work for any size compartment
since it is a dimensionless equation.
126

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
The following assumptions and
limitations apply only to forced
convection situations:

(15) These correlations assume that


the test compartment is open to the
outside at the inlet, and its pressure is
fixed near 1 atmosphere.
(16) These correlations do not
explicitly account for evaluation of the
fire source.
(17) These correlations assume that
the fire is located in the center of the
compartment or away from the walls. If
the fire is flush with a wall or in a
corner of the compartment, the Foot,
Pagni, and Alvares (FPA) correlation is
not valid with coefficient 0.63.

127

INPUT NEEDED
The user must obtain the following values before attempting a
calculation using the natural or forced ventilation spreadsheets:

(1) Compartment width (ft)


(2) Compartment length (ft)
(3) Compartment height (ft)
(4) Interior lining material thickness (in)
(6) Fire heat release rate, HRR (kW)

The user must obtain the following values before attempting a


calculation using the natural ventilation spreadsheets:
(7) Vent width (ft)
(8) Vent height (ft)
(9) Top of vent from floor (ft)

The user must obtain the following values before attempting a


calculation using the forced ventilation spreadsheets:
(10) Forced ventilation rate (cfm)
128

PROBLEM SET
Natural Ventilation
Problem 2.16.1-1
(p. 2-29)

Forced Ventilation
Problem 2.16.2-1
(p.2-55)

129

ESTIMATING SPRINKLER
RESPONSE TIME
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 10)
10_Detector_Activation_Time.xls
130

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING SPRINKLER RESPONSE
TIME
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of
sprinklers.
Identify the four basic types of sprinkler
systems.
Describe the purpose of sprinklers.
Explain how sprinklers function.
131

INTRODUCTION
Sprinklers are designed to control a fire by
producing a cooling effect when the water from
a sprinkler vaporizes to cool the burning
materials below their ignition temperature.
Many times the sprinkler system extinguishes
the fire because the surrounding materials can
no longer heat to their ignition temperature.
If the first sprinkler cannot control the fire, a
second sprinkler is activated which provides
additional cooling. This process continues until
the fire is controlled.
132

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS


The automatic wet pipe sprinkler system is permanently
charged with water and activated by a predetermined temperature
fusible element on the sprinkler.
The automatic dry pipe sprinkler system where the water in
wet pipe system is replaced by compressed air (or nitrogen)
The deluge system simultaneously discharges water from every
open sprinkler on the system and has no fusible elements in the
sprinklers or spray nozzles.
The pre-action system is similar to a deluge system with closed
heads. Before the water can be released, the
(1) fusible
element of the sprinkler must be activated and (2) the detector
must open the deluge valve.

133

SPRINKLER ACTIVATION

134

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The method assumes the ceiling is unconfined, unobstructed,
smooth, flat, and horizontal.
(2) The plume ceiling jet correlations of temperature and velocity
assume that the fire source is located away from walls and corners.
(3) The correlations for estimating the maximum ceiling jet
temperature and velocity were developed for steady-state fires and
plumes under unconfined ceilings
(4) Plume ceiling jet correlations are valid for unconfined ceilings.
(5) Calculations determining time to operation only consider the
convective heating of sensing elements by the hot fire gases.
(6) This method does not apply to predict response time of sprinklers
installed on heat collectors1 far below the ceiling (in mid air).

135

INPUT NEEDED
(1) heat release rate of the fire
(2) activation temperature of the sprinkler
(3) distance from top of fuel package to
the ceiling
(4) radial distance from the plume
centerline to the sprinkler
(5) ambient air temperature
(6) sprinkler type
136

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (10.10-1)
A fire with = 1,000 kW occurs in a space that is protected with
sprinklers. Sprinklers are rated at 165 F (74 C) [standard
response link with RTI = 130 (m-sec) ] and located 9.8 ft (3 m)
on center. The ceiling is 9.8 ft (3.0 m) above the fire. The
ambient temperature is 77 F.
Would the sprinklers activate, and if so how long would it take
for them to activate?

Solution
(1) Determine if the sprinklers will be activated for the fire
scenario.
(2) If the sprinkles are activated, how long would it take for
them to activate?
137

ESTIMATING SMOKE DETECTOR


RESPONSE TIME
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 11)
11_Detector_Activation_Time.xls
138

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING SMOKE DETECTOR
RESPONSE TIME
Introduce the critical factors that influence
smoke detector performance.
Identify the various types of smoke detectors.
Describe how to estimate the response time of
a smoke detector.

139

SMOKE DETECTION
Detection is critical to fire safety in NPPs since a
potential fire hazard may jeopardize safe plant
shutdown. Consequently, safety-related systems must
be protected before redundant safety related systems
become damaged by a fire.
Two essential factors influencing the performance of
smoke detectors are (1) the particle size of the smoke
and (2) the fire-induced air velocities.
Typically, a smoke detector will detect most fires more
rapidly than a heat detector.

140

TIME/DAMAGE

141

SMOKE DETECTORS
Types

Photoelectric light obscuration


Photoelectric light scattering
Projected beam detection
Air sampling detection

Calculations Methods
Method of Albert
Method of Mowrer
Method of Milke
142

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The fire is steady state.
(2) The forced ventilation system is off. As
ventilation is increased, detector response times
increase.
(3) Both flaming and non-flaming fire sources can
be used.
(4) Caution should be exercised with this method
when the overhead area is highly obstructed.
(5) The detectors are located at or very near to
ceiling.
143

INPUT NEEDED

(1) heat release rate of the fire


(2) ceiling height of the compartment
(3) radial distance from the centerline of
the plume

144

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (11.12-1)
Estimate the response time of a smoke detector that
is located 10 ft radially from the centerline of a 1,000kW pool fire in a 13-ft-tall compartment.

Solution
(1) Calculate the wall flame height.
(2) Determine whether the flame will impinge upon
the cable tray.

145

ESTIMATING HEAT DETECTOR


RESPONSE TIME
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 12)
12_Detector_Activation_Time.xls
146

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING HEAT DETECTOR
RESPONSE TIME
Explain where heat detectors are located.
Identify the various types of heat detectors
and how they work.
Describe how to calculate the activation time
of a heat detector.

147

OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Heat detectors are one of the oldest forms of
automatic fire detection devices, and they
typically have the lowest false alarm rate of all
automatic fire detection devices.
Heat detectors are generally located on or near
the ceiling, where they can respond to the
convected thermal energy of a fire.
They may be used in combination with smoke
detectors, since smoke detectors usually activate
before the flames and heat would are sufficient to
alarm the heat detector.
148

TYPES OF DETECTORS

Fixed-temperature
Fusible-element
Continuous Link
Bimetallic
Rate compensation
Rate-of-rise
Pneumatic heat detectors
Line-type detectors
Combination Heat detectors
Electronic spot-type thermal

149

HEAT DETECTOR ACTIVATION

tactivation = sprinkler head activation time (sec)


RTI = Response Time Index (m-sec)
ujet = ceiling jet velocity (m/sec)
Tjet = ceiling jet temperature (C)
Ta = ambient air temperature (C)
Tactivation= activation temperature of detector (C)

150

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) Plume ceiling jet correlations of temperature and
velocity assume that the fire source is located away from
walls and corners.
(2) Correlations for estimating the maximum ceiling jet
temperature and velocity were developed for steady-state
fires and plumes under unconfined ceiling
(3) The plume ceiling jet correlations are valid for
unconfined flat ceilings.
(4) The correlations for estimating the maximum ceiling
jet temperature and velocity were developed for steadystate fires and plumes under unconfined ceiling.
(5) The plume ceiling jet correlations are valid for
unconfined ceilings.
151

INPUT NEEDED

(1) heat release rate of the fire


(2) listed spacing of detectors
(3) activation temperature of detectors
(4) height to ceiling
(5) ambient room temperature

152

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (4.9-1)
A 34.5-ft (3.20-m ) lube oil pool fire with = 5,750 kW
occurs in a space protected with fixed temperature
heat detectors. Calculate the activation time for the
fixed-temperature heat detectors, using 10-ft (3.05m) spacing, in an area with a ceiling height of 10 ft
(3.05 m).
The detector activation temperature is 128 F (53
C), the radial distance to the detector is 4 ft (1.22
m), and the ambient temperature is 77 F (25 C).

153

PREDICTING COMPARTMENT
FLASHOVER
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 13)
13_Compartment_Flashover_Calculations.xls
154

OBJECTIVES
PREDICTING COMPARTMENT
FLASHOVER
Explain the incipient stage of a fire.
Characterize flashover and its stages.
Describe how to predict the HRR
required for flashover and post-flashover
temperature in a compartment.
155

FLASHOVER ONSET
Flashover is the phenomenon that defines the
point of time at which all combustibles in the
compartment are involved in the fire and
flames appear to fill the entire volume.
(1) the temperature rise in the hot gas reaches
500 C - 600 C (932 - 1112 F).
(2) the radiant heat flux density at the floor of
the compartment reaches a minimum value of
20 kW/m2.
156

PREDICTING FLASHOVER
Method of McCaffrey, Quintiere, and Harkleroad
Method of Babrauskas
Method of Thomas

157

OTHER PREDICTIONS
Compartment Post-Flashover Temperatures (Thomas
and Law)

Method of Margaret Law - Fire Severity


tf

K Leq

Av At

1/ 2

158

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The correlations were developed from a simplified
mass and energy balance on a single compartment with
ventilation openings.
(2) The experimental data used to develop the correlation
included compartments with thermally thick walls and
fires of wood cribs. Typically, heat transfer through
compartment surfaces is accounted for with a semiinfinite solid approximation.
(3) The fire severity correlation is not appropriate for
compartment that do not have openings for ventilation.
While no precise minimum can be stated, it is suggested
that this method not be used unless the size of the
opening is at least 0.4 m2 (4 ft2).
159

INPUT NEEDED

(1) compartment width


(2) compartment length
(3) compartment height
(4) vent width
(5) vent height

160

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (13.10-1)
Consider a compartment 20 ft wide x 25 ft
long x 12 ft high (wc x lc x hc), with an opening
3 ft wide
and 8 ft high (wv x hv). The interior lining
material of the compartment is 6 in. concrete.
Calculate
the HRR necessary for flashover and the
post-flashover compartment temperature,
TPFO.
161

ESTIMATING PRESSURE RISE


ATTRIBUTABLE TO A FIRE IN A
CLOSED COMPARTMENT
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 14)
14_Compartment_Over_Pressure_Calculations.xls
162

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING PRESSURE RISE
ATTRIBUTABLE TO A FIRE IN A
CLOSED COMPARTMENT
Discuss some systems of pressure
measurement.
Explain how to calculate pressure rise.
Define relevant terms, including pressure rise.
163

PRINCIPLES
In a closed compartment or a compartment with small
leakages, the release of heat from the combustion
process could cause compartment pressure to rise as
a result of the volumetric expansion of gases.

164

CALCULATIONS
According to Karlsson and Quintiere (1999), the
maximum pressure difference inside a compartment as
a result of expansion of gases is given by the following
expression:

165

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The energy release rate is constant.
(2) The mass loss rate of the fuel is
neglected in the conversion of mass.
(3) The specific heat does not change
with temperature.
(4) The hydrostatic pressure difference
over the height of the compartment is
ignored and assumed to be negligible
compared to the dynamic pressure.
166

INPUT NEEDED

(1) compartment width


(2) compartment length
(3) compartment height
(4) fire heat release rate
(5) time after ignition

167

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (14-10.1)
A closed compartment in a facility
pump room has dimensions 10 ft wide
x 12 ft long x 10 ft high. A fire starts
with a constant HRR of = 100 kW.
Estimate the pressure rise attributable
to the expansion of gases after 10
seconds.
168

ESTIMATING THE PRESSURE


INCREASE AND EXPLOSIVE
ENERGY RELEASE ASSOCIATED
WITH EXPLOSIONS
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 15)
15_Explosion_Calculations.xls
169

OBJECTIVES
ESTIMATING THE PRESSURE
INCREASE AND EXPLOSIVE ENERGY
RELEASE ASSOCIATED WITH
EXPLOSIONS
Define the nature and implications of an explosion.
Explain the various causes, hazards, and effects of
explosions.
Explain how to calculate the energy released by an
explosion.
Explain how to calculate the pressure increase
attributable to an explosion.

170

CHARACTERISTICS
A rapid release of high-pressure gases into the
environment (Cruice, 1991).
A sudden conversion of potential energy into kinetic
energy in the form of rapidly expanding gases (NFPA 921).
A physical reaction: high-pressure gas; confinement or
restriction of the pressure; rapid production or release of
pressure; and change or charge to the confining structure,
container, or vessel caused by the pressure release.
(NFPA 921).
An exothermic chemical process that when occurring at
constant volume, gives rise to a sudden and significant
pressure rise (Vervalin, 1985).

171

EXPLOSION CONCEPTS

Explosion Hazards
Explosive Range
Backdraft Explosions
Smoke Explosion
Unconfined/Confined Explosions
Attributable Damage
Estimating Explosive Energy Release
Blast Effects
172

EXPLOSION CALCULATIONS
Energy Release in a Confined Explosion

TNT Mass Equivalent Calculations

Blast Effect
Dsc

D
1
3
TNT

Pressure Increase in a Confined Explosion

173

BLAST EFFECTS

174

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The method assumes point source blast wave energy
correlation (i.e., TNT equivalent energy).
(2) The ideal point source blast wave correlations cannot
be valid within or near the flammable vapor cloud.
(3) Flammable gases and vapors are mixed with air (or
some other oxidant) in proportions between the lower
and upper flammable limits.
(4) It is important to recognize that practical applications
of flammability/exposibility data for explosion hazard
evaluation should account for nonuniform or stratified
vapor-air mixtures.
175

INPUT NEEDED

(1) fuel type (material)


(2) mass of flammable vapor
(3) ambient temperature
(4) ambient pressure

176

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (15.18-1)
In an NPP, a liquid propane gas (LPG)-driven forklift is
used to un load materials from an upcoming outage.
Mechanical failure could result in the release of LPG in
the area. The maximum fuel capacity of the forklift is
10 gallons. Calculate pressure rise, energy released by
expanding LPG, and equivalent TNT charge weight.
Assume that the mass of the vapor released is 48 lb.

177

CALCULATING THE RATE OF


HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION IN
BATTERY ROOMS
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 16)
16_Battery_Room_Flammable_Gas_Conc.xl
s
178

OBJECTIVES
CALCULATING THE RATE OF
HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION IN
BATTERY ROOMS
Explain how hydrogen gas is generated in a battery room.
Describe the conditions under which hydrogen gas will ignite.
Describe possible ignition sources in a battery room.
Explain methods of controlling the combustion of hydrogen gas.
Describe how to estimate hydrogen gas generation rates.

179

OPERATING PRINCIPLES
(1) Adequate ventilation is the most common form of
fire prevention/protection in battery rooms.
(2) The exhaust air outlets from the battery room shall
be located separately
(3) Codes require spill containment systems for battery
installations that contain electrolyte.
(4) NPP should maintain an ambient temperature of 23
to 26 C (72 to 78 F) in battery rooms.
(5) To extinguish lead-acid battery fires, use CO2, fire
protection foam, or dry chemical media.

180

CALCULATIONS
Rate of Hydrogen Generation

Vapor Concentration Buildup Time

181

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) Hydrogen gas is primarily generated in battery rooms
as a result of battery overcharge.
(2) The generation of hydrogen environment could occur
if the ventilation flow through the vapor space is
completely stopped or other events allow hydrogen
accumulation.
(3) This method assumes that significant amounts of
hydrogen gas are liberated only when the battery
approaches full charge.
(4) The calculations will produce a first order
approximation.
(5) The battery hydrogen generation equation is based on
one specific vendors recommendations.
182

INPUT NEEDED

(1) charge voltage (vpc)


(2) ampere Hours
(3) number of cells

183

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (16.14-1)
Assume a 60-cell GT-41 (3,730 Amperehour) battery near the end of its life, on
equalize at 2.33 VPC at an electrolyte
temperature of 92 F (33 C). Estimate the
rate of hydrogen generation (in cubic feet
per minute).

184

CALCULATING THE FIRE


RESISTANCE OF STRUCTURAL
STEEL MEMBERS
(NUREG 1805 -Chap 17)
17_FR_Beams_Columns_Substitution_Correlation.xls

185

OBJECTIVES
CALCULATING THE FIRE RESISTANCE
OF STRUCTURAL STEEL MEMBERS

Describe the testing procedures for fire resistance


protection of structural steel members.
Describe the failure criteria for structural steel
members.
Explain how to calculate the fire resistance (failure
time) of protected and unprotected structural steel
members.

186

OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Fire resistance denotes the ability of a building
component to resist the thermal insult of a standard rest
fire. ( e.g., 1 hour, 3 hours, etc.).
The retention load-bearing capacities by structural
members during a fire is very important.
Buildings collapse when load-bearing members lose their
load-bearing capacity.
The temperature limits for structural steel members are
based on ASTM E119. The maximum single point
temperature in a steel beam, column, or girder is 649 C
(1,300 F) and the allowable average temperature in
these members is 530 C (1,000 F).
187

CALCULATION ENDURANCE

Calculating Fire Resistance or Endurance


Equivalent fire resisance
Protection of steel columns
Beam substitution with spray-on materials
Unprotected/protected steel sections

188

ASSUMPTIONS/LIMITATIONS
(1) The heat transfer analysis is one dimensional.
(2) Correlations are based on the analysis of data
resulting from performing the standard test numerous
times, using curve-fitting techniques to establish the
various correlations.
(3) As the structural member heats up, its structural
properties can change substantially.
(4) Equation-specific limitations apply (see the various
equations throughout this chapter).

189

INPUT NEEDED

(1) dimensions of the steel member in


question
(2) thermal properties of the applied
insulation

190

PROBLEM SET
Problem Statement (17.14-1)
Calculate the thickness of spray-on fire
protection required to provide a 2-hour fire
resistance for a W12 x 16 beam to be
substituted for a W8 x 18 beam requiring
1.44 in. of protection for the same rating.

191

FIRE DYNAMICS
TOOLS
(TIER D)
192

HAZARD METHODOLOGY
Tier D Tenability (Hazard Criteria)
D1 (18) Estimating visibility through smoke
D2 Heat release rate
D3 Radiant heat exposure (2.5 kW/m2)
D4 Layer temperature (100oC)
D5 Layer smoke density (0.2/m)
D6 Layer Carbon Monoxide (3,000 ppm)
D7 Layer Oxygen (10 percent or less)
193

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